Cana Rensberger

I've taught math at the same middle school for 22 years. Tomorrow is my last day. Beginning Monday I will be teaching Algebra One at Florida Virtual School!!!! Online teaching! I'm so excited....nervous also, to be sure, but so excited!!! The learning curve will be steep, maybe vertical. Grin. But I'm hoping once I get the hang of it, I'll be able to schedule more quality writing time! Woot! Woot!!!

I have to share! This week was so much fun. I'll confess, I was worried about using the MacBooks with my students, but it has been the BEST addition to my teaching! Especially for my Algebra students. The new high school math textbooks have a website that's incredible! (Your child's teacher has to set up their classes on that site and give their students their usernames and passwords.) I've been trying all year to get my students hooked on the 'home tutor' section of the website. The website also has instructional videos, powerpoint, interactive lessons, you name it, they've got it!

So this week I signed out the laptops and instructed them to do the home tutor lessons in the first two sections of chapter five. The home tutor gives them 15 practice problems. Every student has 15 different problems, and every time they do the lesson, they get another 15 different problems! Amazing, right? AND...if they don't understand the concept, they can click "hint" and it will show them how to do a similar problem or they can click "show me" and it will explain how to do the problem, then give them another. They get up to three tries per problem. And they are HARD! (You know I love to make my students think!) As they completed a segment, I recorded their score. They can check their answers as they go, or wait until they've finished. I made them do the lesson over and over until they got at least a B. What they didn't know is that my plan was to average those two lesson grades together and count it as their test!

THEN...after they finished the two sessions, (this took like, three days total), they copied my notes that I'd attached to their assignment in their online gradebook, read through the notes, including annotations I'd made on images of their text that I'd captured with my MOBI, and then after finding the homework pages of their textbook ONLINE, they started their homework in class! No direct instruction. All I did was go around and answer questions, and check for understanding. Most of the students really liked learning this way. I liked it because they had to read my notes, read the text, and THINK about what they were reading. We'll see Monday if it really worked or not when we go over the homework. Oh, and even though iPods aren't allowed, I'll admit, if they had their earbuds, I let them listen to music while working. And some used their earbuds to watch the video tutorials. So, so cool!

Here's the funny part. One student said they thought it would be really cool if they could use iChat to talk to me through my computer to ask me questions. LOL. Sounds sort of like virtual teaching, don't you think? I told him, that even though it sometimes seems like it, I don't work 24/7. Grin.

I'm telling ya, teaching through technology is amazing! It is most definitely the way of the future!

In the beginning of August, I also put in an application to teach at a virtual school. In November I was asked to scan and upload my last two evaluations and complete a teacher profile survey. I suppose that means I've made the first cut. My application is still being reviewed. I know this process is a long one...so I wait.

We moved to our current property in '98. Fifteen glorious acres. We purchased a used doublewide thinking we'd be able to build in, oh, say 5 years? So...we've finally started the process. Agreed on a house plan. And given it to a builder to give us a cost estimate to build. I have no idea if it's within our budget or not. So...we wait.

So, while waiting, I have to do something to take my mind off of those tiny grains of sand slipping through the hourglass. I'm walking. A lot. I've lost nearly 15 pounds. (Yay!)

I'm trying new things at school, teaching from the online text, mixing in my notes, trying to teach the students to use their books, to think. I'm looking forward to using the new classroom set of MacBooks. I'm enjoying my students, and trying to let the irritations slide.

I'm thinking of a new book idea. Brain writing, I call it. Trying to figure out how to make it work. Trying to gather the various threads and images together to bring my protagonist into better focus, as well as some secondary characters. Trying to figure out what to DO with the idea. The action. The plot. 

And I'm reading. Still one of the best ways to pass the time. Waiting. It's all part of the game. But I can't help it. Sometimes I sure wish I could figure out how to fast forward. Okay....time to go walk some more.

Just wanted to share a web site with you that has helped me begin my journey to better health and less stress. myfitnesspal. Since the week before Thanksgiving I've lost 7 pounds. (Umm...if you don't count the two that have snuck up on me these past two days. LOL.) Seriously, just keeping track of the calories I'm consuming has made an incredible difference. So far I have found every single food on this site. Another thing I love about it is that you can type in an entire recipe, enter the number of servings, and bingo, you get the calories per serving that are in that recipe! You can also keep track of your cardiovascular and/or strengthening exercise! And most encouraging, as you end each day, the site tells you what you will weigh in five weeks if you continue eating as you did that day. Very, very cool.

I'm learning to let go of stuff at work. I focus on what's best for my students, and am trying to let the rest slide. Sort of. I do what I can. Meanwhile, I've applied to teach online. It's a slow process, but I've made the first cut. As much as I love technology, I think I'll enjoy teaching this way. We'll see. God knows best.

Today my son leaves for a week of scout camp. We're in Florida, but still, nothing like sleeping in a tent when it's in the 20's at night. But he'll be able to earn those last three required merit badges for Eagle, then he can focus on an Eagle project. With him gone and hubby at work, I should be able to finish the revisions on my YA so I begin submitting it. I think it's going to be the one. The breakout novel. Submitting it will be a great way to start the new year.

2010 has been good to me. Stressful, yes. Yet I know I'm blessed. We had our first Dave Ramsey Christmas. Christmas on a budget. No credit cards. I'm learning to manage the stress at work and taking steps to change that. And I haven't given up on the publishing dream. My kids are happy and healthy, making good grades. And hubby and I are close to celebrating 20 wonderful years together. I can't ask for more.

Hoping all of you out there had a blessed Christmas and wishing you a Happy New Year!

This school year has had it's ups and downs. Like everyone these days, jobs are becoming more and more stressful. And yes, I'm thankful I have a job. And one that I enjoy. Mostly. I love being in the classroom, working with my students. Figuring out what makes them tick, what trick will help them understand that great abyss of knowledge, otherwise known as math...yeah, that's fun.

But I'm struggling more this year juggling everything. Job...two teens...well, that's enough in itself. LOL. But I'm also working on the great breakout novel. It's been tough to get myself into that place where I can relax, and think, and revise, and create, and, well, all that stuff. But I'm closer than ever to finally submitting it. I won't quit. I won't. Ever.

Meanwhile, I must learn to handle the stress. Hmmm...lose weight. Exercise. Two biggies. Really. I can't change the other genetic stress factors. But I also have to figure out how not to do everything....perfectly. Yeah, you know the type. Drive everyone else crazy because we have to do what we're told. Do the right thing. If it's worth doing, well it's worth doing right, the very best you can. I'm finding it's not healthy. I've committed to making a change. After all, it is just a job, right? I'll have to be willing to do what's best for my students, and, hard to even type....let the rest slide. I want to enjoy my hubby, my kids, my writing...life, for a very long time to come. And you know what, I might even figure out how to work in the time to visit with my online writer buddies every once in a while. :)

So I'm resisting. Resisting reading the ms. It's printed out. But I'm making myself wait. Two critiques are already back. There are things than can be made better, tighter, things that will make my characters more three-dimensional. But overall, very positive feedback. I'm starting to believe I might actually be able to meet my goal of submitting this before I have to go back to school.

As in, go back when my other district teachers go back, on the 16th. Because I already went back last week. To a four day workshop that was so awful we only went for two days and were instructed not to go back. I've never had an experience like that before. Without going into details, I think, to be fair to the presenter, that he wasn't given a clear picture of what he was supposed to be training us for.

But this week, I'm also in a workshop. A technology workshop! Our district won a nearly one million dollar grant for technology, including training! And....we're training on MACS!!! I'll have to let you know what I think of them. So far, it's a little frustrating, but today was noticeably easier than yesterday. But the super exciting part is that we learned how to do a podcast!!! I'm so flippin' excited. The only down side was that I had to do one on math. (It was pitiful.) You know I wanted to do one on teen novels. Especially my own! Man, it was so exciting! With a little practice, I believe I'll be able to produce something worthwhile! No, don't think I'm going to let you see the one I did today. Nope, not going there.

Even if it is still summer, and I rather be at home, I can't wait to see what we're going to do tomorrow!

Happy writing all!

I'm so excited. And feeling a little lost. I'm finished with MUTED. I've even cleaned up all the gazillions of comment tags I'd posted throughout the manuscript! Today it goes out to my valued writing buddies. I can't wait to print it out and read it with pencil in hand. But first. I'm going to read this:

My son needs your help with a FLVS (Florida Virtual School) biology survey if you have a few minutes.  It does ask for personal information at the end, so feel free to send your answers to me in a private LJ message or to candycana at gmail dot com. Thanks.

Son's guest post:

Ok, so I had to write up a little survey on Animal Testing. I just need 25 people to reply to this please.

1.) First of all, what do you know about Animal Testing?

2.) Do you feel that there is a limit to the tests that should be performed, such as lipstick is fine, but drugs are not?

3.) Is the animal's potential sacrifice of health justified as it helps to protect us?

4.) What is a means that we could end Animal Testing but still make sure the product is safe for human use?


I also need to know your age, gender, occupation, and education(?).... Not me, FLVS... haha

ETA: Anonymous responses are fine as well, as long as the above personal info is included. Thanks so much.

I tried. I really did. I won this guy at the school fair in 4th grade! Robin Hill Elementary in Creve Coeur, Missouri. I had to throw rings around soda bottles. And I got all 3! I still remember the puffed up feeling I had as I carried it through the school to the gymnasium to show Mom and Dad. And my brothers. I was somebody!

I've tried to get rid of it before but it never made it out the door. So today, finally, it made it to my favorite donation destination. Even though hubby saw it last night and commented, pouting, that he couldn't believe I was getting rid of it. How could I? (Insert dramatic sigh of anguish.) I informed him, feeling very superior, that maybe if I got rid of useless junk that we'd been saving for years, then maybe he would too. I know. Ouch.

So I drove away feeling very proud of myself. I'd done it. And it hadn't even hurt too badly. I go pick up my almost grown, muscled, taller-than-me 16yo son from football practice. And, of course I brag to him about my accomplishment. He was devastated. What? How could I? He'd heard our discussion last night and tried to find it. (It was already in the car.) He was going to take it. It would be the biggest in his collection! How could I get rid of it! (Insert another cry of anguish.)

It's back. Now in my son's room. I did leave three other garbage bags full of donations. Hey, at least it's no longer in my bedroom right?

My novel is a contemporary YA. My writing buddy is losing track of who's who. And she's wisely suggesting that perhaps my list of named characters needs to be purged. She points out that if you name a character, the reader feels obligated to remember who they are. She's right. The bad part is, she's suggesting I cut a character I particularly like. That perhaps his use can be accomplished by another, better-known character. Waaa. (Her word. Grin.) I'm grasping for straws in defense of keeping that character. Secondary characters must be well-defined too, right? They have their own stories, lives, siblings. (You guessed it, said minor named character is a young sibling of older much-more-important character.)

Okay, so I have to approach this objectively. Time to do a character tree of sorts. Time to find out exactly how many named characters I have. I'll let you know what I find out.

What do you think? How many named characters is too many?


ETA: 16!
MC and two new best friends
One old best friend and that character's new best friend(antagonists)
Romantic interest and his best friend
Two counselors (Probably need to prune to one even though 2nd one is interesting.)
Two male antagonists (one is huge, the other can maybe be pruned.)
MC's step-dad, mom, and two twin sisters.
younger sibling of new significant best friend.
Oh...and I didn't add in teacher's names. But wouldn't it be weird not to name teachers when much of the novel takes place at school?